Buckle



A. T. POOLE Aug.4 24, 1943.

BUCKLE Filed Aug. 22, 1942 Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNHTED STATES QITEN'FHCE BUCKLE Asby Tom Poole, Greybull, Wyo.

Application August 22, 1942, Serial No. 455,801

(Cl. 2li-170) 2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to buckles, Iand while it isprimarily intended for use as an overshc-e buckle, its generalapplication or use in any desired connection is contemplated by theclaims.

The invention has for its principal object, the provision of a buckleincluding a pivoted gripping cam which is definitely maintainedimmovable in its gripping position, and that any stress or pull to whichthe buckle is subjected will only tend to increase the effectiveness ofthe gripping action of the cam.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a buckle of the character abovementioned which is very simple in construction, and one capable of beingreadily opened or closed with very little effort.

More speciiically stated, the invention provides a buckle having a baseupon which is mounted a pivoted gripping cam, actuated by a lever alsopivoted on the base, the latter being designed to be slightly flexed andtensioned as the cam assumes its gripping position, the tension of thebase being utilized to effectively hold the cam immovable while in use.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detail description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a buckle constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the buckle closed.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 oi Figure 1 showing howthe gripping cam is effectively maintained in its active position.

Figure 4 is 'a similar sectional view through the buckle showing theposition of the parts with buckle open.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is'a perspective view of the gripping cam.

Before entering into a detail description of what is herein illustrated,I desire to have it known that the drawing merely shows one embodimentof the invention, to which I do not limit myself and that such changesin construction may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scopeof what is claimed.

The buckle constituting the subject matter of the instant invention mayof course be constructed from any suitable material and also vary insize without departing from the spirit of the invention. The buckleincludes a base It) of resilient material in that it is adapted to beplaced under tension to effectively maintain the buckle closed in amanner to be hereinafter fully set forth. For this purpose the base IIIof the buckle includes an intermediate curved portion which is adaptedto be slightly llexed or bowed incident to the closing of the buckle.Projecting from the opposite ends of the base are spaced pairs of earsindicated at II and I2 respectively. A gripping cam is pivoted betweenthe ears I I as clearly illustrated, the pivot therefore being indicatedat I3. This cam is preferably of the contour shown in Figure 6,including angularly disposed branches I4 and I5 respectively. Thegripping cam I3 is operated by a suitable lever which is pivoted to thecam as at Il. The pivot Il operates in a slot Iwhich latter is formed inthe sides of a lever I8, and the parts are so associated that when thelever is actuated to move the cam I3 to its gripping position, thecurved portion of the base is slightly flexed or bowed, thereby placingthe base under tension which is utilized to effectively maintain the camI3 immovable while in use. The operating lever I8 for the cam I3 may ofcourse be of any suitable construction or design without departing fromthe inventive idea. The lever I 8 is pivotally mounted between a pair ofears I2 as at I9. The active branch I4 of the gripping cam may ifdesired be serrated as shown, and is adapted to very eiiectively gripthe object with which it is used. As hereinabove stated, the buckle isprimarily intended for use on overshoes or the like, in which connectionthe gripping cam engages a serrated tongue indicated at 20. However, ageneral application of the invention is contemplated by the claims, andit is of course manifest that a strap or the like may be used with thebuckle instead of the tongue 2li. In use, the object to be gripped isreceived between the ears II and reposes on the base I0, while the leverI8 occupies its inactive or open position as shown in Figure 4. Thelever is then depressed to move the cam I3 to its active grippingposition as clearly indicated in Figure 3. It is during this operationof the lever I8 that the base IIJ is placed under tension to be utilizedin holding the gripping cam I3 against casual displacement or slippagewhile in use. This result is accomplished by the connection between thegripping cam I3 and the lever I8. In other words, when the operatinglever is initially moved the pivot l1 engages one end of the slot I6while the pivot is above the dotted line A shown in Figure 4. Furthermovement of the lever I3 to move the cam I3 to its full active positionshifts the pivot l'l beneath the dotted line A which position of partsis illustrated in Figure 3. As the pivot H is forced beneath the dottedline A it contacts the opposite end of the slot I6, thereby exerting anoutward stress on the respective pairs of ears H and l2. This cycle ofoperation slightly iiexes the intermediate curved portion of the baselll. This tension of the base is utilized to very effectively maintainthe cam I3 in gripping relation with the object 20 in a manner thatpositively prevents casual opening of the buckle under anycircumstances. The buckle can however be very easily opened with aminimum of effort by simply lifting up on the lever I8. Furthermore, thebuckle in its entirety is very simple in construction and can be manuefaetured and sold at a nominal cost.

While it is believed that the nature and advantages of the inventionwill be readily understood from the foregoing description, I desire tohave it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein disclosed,and that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A buckle including a resilient base having an intermediate curvedportion adapted to be flexed under tension when the buckle is in use, agripping cam pivoted at onerend of the base, an operating lever thereforpivoted at the otherl end of the base, and means connecting the camY andlever to each other and to the base, whereby the base is tensionedincident to the operation of the lever to effectively hold the camimmovable in its active position.

2. A buckle including a resilient base having an intermediate bowedportion, a gripping cam pivoted at one end of the base, an operatinglever therefor p-ivoted at the opposite end lof the base, and a slot andpin connection between the cam,

lever and base, whereby the bowed portion o the base is flexed andtensioned as the cam is moved into gripping position, to effectivelyhold the cam against movement while in use.

ASBY TOM POOLE.

